Learning aid for central wheel structure auto-balancing device and auto-balancing device having same

Abstract

A training aid to teach balancing skills for a central wheel structure auto-balancing device and an auto-balancing device having same. The training aids may be variously configured and may be releasably or fixedly coupled to the foot platforms of the auto-balancing device. Disclosed embodiments include various ground contact members and various support structures that hold the ground contacting members. The training aids may be compressive and/or offer ground resistance. The height of the aids, their compressive strength and/or their resistance, among other features, may be adjusted.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A training aid device for a central wheel structure auto-balancing device, comprising:
 a ground contact member; 
 a support structure that supports the ground contact member; and 
 an attachment mechanism adapted for attachment of the support structure to a central wheel structure auto-balancing device; 
 wherein the support structure is configured to be compressible such that the lean of a rider, toward the side of an auto-balancing device to which the training aid device is attached causes a vertical compressing force to be applied to the support structure that compresses the support structure; and 
 wherein the greater the lateral lean of a rider, the greater the compressing force exerted on the support structure and the greater the friction achieved between the ground contact member and the ground; 
 the training aid device configured such that friction between the ground contact member and the ground causes a central wheel structure auto-balancing device to which the training aid device is attached to turn about a pivot point located where the ground contact member contacts the ground, and the greater the lean of a rider, the greater the friction at the pivot point and thus the sharper the turning. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure and ground contact member are formed of the same material. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the ground contact member is formed on at least one surface of material that forms the support structure. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the support structure and ground contact member are configured such that the ground contact member is movable spatially from the support structure. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the support structure includes a bias mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the ground contact member is configured to be non-rotary. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure and ground contact member are formed of different materials. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure and ground contact member are biased to a first position and configured such that application of a vertical compressing force deforms the support structure, the support structure returning to the first position when the vertical compressing force is removed. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ground contacting member is a wheel. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ground contact member is a wheel and the device further comprises a braking mechanism that applies a friction force against rotation of the wheel, and wherein the greater the friction force, the sharper the turning of an auto-balancing device to which the training aid device is attached. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the friction force applied by the braking mechanism is rider selectable. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the braking mechanism is configured to increase the friction force exerted against rotation of the wheel when a rider increases the amount of weight applied to the device. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is adapted for coupling to a foot platform of a central wheel structure auto-balancing device. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ground contact member is configured to be non-rotary. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the training aid device is configured to afford rider selection of the height of the ground contact member above the height of ground upon which the auto-balancing device is ridden. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the ground contact member relative to the support structure is changeable. 
     
     
       17. A training aid device for a central wheel structure auto-balancing device, comprising:
 a ground contact member; 
 a support structure that supports the ground contact member; and 
 an attachment mechanism adapted for attachment of the support structure to a central wheel structure auto-balancing device; 
 wherein the support structure and ground contact member are biased towards a first position and configured such that the lean of a rider, toward the side of an auto-balancing device to which the training aid device is attached, causes a deforming force to be applied to the support structure, the support structure returning to their first position when the deforming force is removed; 
 wherein the training aid device creates a pivot point for turning an auto-balancing device to which the training aid device is attached, the pivot point located where the ground contact member contacts the ground, and wherein the greater the lean of a rider onto the training aid device, the greater the friction achieved at the pivot point and thus the sharper the turning of an attached auto-balancing device. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the attachment mechanism is adapted for coupling to a foot platform of a central wheel structure auto-balancing device. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the support structure and the ground contact member are made of the same material. 
     
     
       20. A training aid device for a central wheel structure auto-balancing device, comprising:
 a ground contact member that includes a wheel; 
 a support structure that supports the ground contact member; and 
 an attachment mechanism adapted for attachment of the support structure to a central wheel structure auto-balancing device; and 
 a friction force mechanism that applies friction against rotation of the wheel, the friction force mechanism configured to allow rider pre-selection of the amount of friction applied against rotation of the wheel; 
 the training aid device configured such that contact of the ground contact member with ground defines a pivot point about which a central wheel structure auto-balancing device attached to the training aid device turns when the ground contact member contacts the ground. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the position of the wheel relative to the support structure is movable spatially.